Ice Hockey
Barons claim the bragging rights

Buy photos » On loan for the night - Rob Perks in close on Hayden Laverick. Picture by Keith Davies.

Solihull Barons 5 Coventry NL Blaze 4

Challenge Cup

BARONS saw off the challenge of Division One outfit Coventry NL Blaze on Sunday evening in front of over 600 fans at Hobs Moat Road.

Blaze’s Josh Nicklin opened the scoring on nine minutes before being pegged back by the Barons’ Neil Adams who chipped a shot into the roof of the net.

Coventry regained the lead just before the end of the first period when Dale Buckland, recently released by Barons, fired a speculative shot from the blue line beyond Solihull netminder Hayden Laverick.

The second period saw goals for Neil Adams for Barons and Coventry’s Josh Nicklin, while Phil Lee, a month shy of his 47th birthday, but playing his best hockey for years, brought Barons back into contention with a short handed goal.

A minute from the end of the period, Adams raced the puck up the right wing and released a crisp pass to give Dave Rogers the chance to fire home and put the hosts ahead for the first time on the night.

Blaze looked to have earned a draw when Rhys Gillat netted five minutes from the end, only for Rich Slater to fire the winner a minute later.

Speaking after the game, man of the match Adams said: “The crowd was big again and that always helps us out on the ice. Our offence did well and I think we probably have some of the strongest forward lines in the league.

“We have to look forward though. We’ve got some tough games over the next few weeks and will need to be on it every time if we want to stay in the running for the league.”

Barons hit the road for the next two weeks with trips to Fylde and Hull. They return to Hobs Moat Road on December 9 against current league leaders Nottingham Lions.

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